Chapter 57: Too Popular, Now Pay the Price

Qianxue didn’t catch the sarcasm in her young lady’s voice.

She simply thought the young lady was asking how the master’s mood had been.

So she replied with a smile, “The shadow guard said the master was in a very good mood today, chatting and laughing with the people who came to the signing event.”

The corners of Lu Zijin’s lips lifted into a slight curve.

“Very good.

I didn’t know she had such skills.”

“Yes.

The manager of the main branch said that five hundred copies each of the second and third volumes of the storybook were printed, plus another three hundred copies of the first volume were reprinted.

And they all sold out in a single day, at the high price of five taels per volume.

The master is truly impressive.”

Qianxue praised her.

After all, at the original price of one tael per book, they would have only made thirteen hundred taels of silver.

But with Wei Lan’s method, they directly sold sixty-five hundred taels, several times over.

“So, the master is indeed impressive.

Since I have nothing else to do, I’ll go see the master.”

Lu Zijin’s lips curved, but her tone remained indifferent.

“Yes, this servant will prepare the sedan chair.”

Qianxue thought her young lady was going to reward the master, after all, she had sold the storybooks for so much more silver.

Lu Zijin nodded slightly, then walked to the courtyard to wait for the sedan chair.

She was going to have a good talk with Wei Lan about how she had chatted and laughed with those young girls today.

Wei Lan, of course, had no idea about any of this.

After seeing off the customers in the shop, she had the manager reconcile the day’s accounts.

After confirming that the sixty-five hundred taels of silver were correct, she prepared to leave.

Qu Qiushui’s gaze towards Wei Lan was practically shining.

She quickly flattered, “Master, you are truly talented.

In just one day, you’ve earned what would have taken us several months.

It’s all thanks to you, master!”

Wei Lan waved her hand and smiled.

“This isn’t much.

We’ll try to come up with even more ideas in the future to attract more customers.”

“Yes, yes.

We will follow your instructions, master.”

Qu Qiushui immediately said.

She now had zero doubt left about Wei Lan.

If Wei Lan told her to do something, she would do it immediately.

“Good.

You’ve worked hard these past few days.

Tomorrow, you must still urge the printing shop to hurry.

It won’t do if we can sell books but have none to sell.”

Wei Lan reminded her.

“Master, don’t worry.

I’ll go there first thing tomorrow morning and make sure they print more books.”

Wei Lan nodded.

“Good.”

Wei Lan oversaw the counting of the shop’s silver, and after confirming there were no errors, she left with Xi Ye and Si Yun.

Si Yun was especially happy, feeling a great sense of accomplishment in doing this.

Especially since so many people loved her master’s storybooks.

Standing beside her, she also felt proud.

Xi Ye, on the other hand, had been quiet for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.

Just as they were nearing the Lu residence, Xi Ye finally stammered out, “Um… master, what should I do with the rouge that woman gave me?”

Wei Lan looked at Xi Ye in astonishment.

“Use it yourself.

What else do you want to do with it?”

“Master, why don’t you take it?

I don’t usually like using that kind of thing.”

Xi Ye twisted her hands behind her back.

She had accepted the gift, but it felt like a hot potato in her hands.

“How can that be?

That was a gift from her.

Zhou Yufu is the owner of the best rouge shop in Panyang City, and she’s quite pretty too.

What’s wrong?

Don’t you like her?”

Wei Lan asked.

Xi Ye’s face burned red.

“No…

I mean…

I’m not ready to think about that kind of thing yet.”

“Why are you blushing?

Are you shy?”

Wei Lan found it curious.

Xi Ye usually spoke very little, and with a large ring-pommel sword on her back, she looked quite cool and tough.

She hadn’t expected her to be so innocent.

Wei Lan thought it was interesting and deliberately teased her.

“How could that be?

I’m a battlefield veteran.

I’ve seen every kind of situation.

How could I be shy?

It’s just too hot out.”

Xi Ye made an excuse for herself.

Wei Lan patted her shoulder and leaned in.

“A beautiful, wealthy heiress like that is a rare find.

You might not get another chance.

Think about it: being a live-in wife is great.

Look at me, aren’t I happy every day?”

Xi Ye looked at Wei Lan, speechless.

Her master was truly something special.

She had the skill to earn a lot of silver and buy a big house, yet she still stayed content as a live-in wife at the Lu residence.

She remembered back in the military camp, the female Qiankuns she was close with would often discuss what kind of Kunzes they liked.

She had just listened to them talk back then; she was still a blank slate.

She hadn’t expected that not long after leaving the military camp, she would encounter a situation like this.

She truly didn’t know how to handle it.

Seeing she wasn’t speaking, Wei Lan comforted her, “If you like her, be with her.

If you don’t, just talk it out next time you see her.

We live to be happy.

Don’t agonize over it.”

Hearing Wei Lan’s words, Xi Ye felt a little less nervous.

But the brocade box still tucked in her chest remained burning hot.

Wei Lan, as she walked into the residence, continued to comfort Xi Ye not to feel any psychological pressure.

Being noticed by a wealthy heiress should be a good thing.

She had no idea that Lu Zijin was already waiting for her in the bedroom.

The three of them, finding the front gate too far, simply went in through the back gate and headed towards Fuqu Pavilion.

As soon as Wei Lan entered, Matron Li came up to her with a smile.

“Master, you’re back.

The young lady is waiting for you in your room.”

“Is that so?

I’ll go right away!”

Hearing that Lu Zijin had come, Wei Lan’s eyes lit up.

She had been busy with the signing event for days and hadn’t seen Lu Zijin in a while.

Wei Lan excitedly trotted towards the bedroom.

Xi Ye watched Wei Lan’s transformation in bewilderment.

Her master was usually quite mature and steady when handling serious matters.

Why did she change like this when it came to seeing the young lady?

Wei Lan had already rushed into the bedroom.

“Wife, you’re here?”

Lu Zijin gave her a faint smile and nodded.

Then she waved her hand at Qianxue, signaling her to leave.

Qianxue bowed to Lu Zijin and Wei Lan, smiled at Wei Lan, and then withdrew.

Wei Lan was very happy too.

She didn’t know if her wife had heard about her money-making exploits today.

She was ready to brag a little.

Ice had been placed in the bedroom to cool it down, so Qianxue closed the door behind her as she left.

Wei Lan smiled at Lu Zijin.

If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously.

“Wife, I earned a lot of silver today!

I definitely hurt Chen Ji Bookstore’s business.”

Lu Zijin smiled gently at her, but her gaze was deep.

“Is that so?

What interesting things did the master do today?

Tell me about them, so I can be happy too.”

“Sure, I was just about to tell you.

From early this morning, people started lining up to buy books.

At first, a few young girls came.

I chatted with them as I signed.

Then, gradually, more and more people came, forming two long lines in the bookstore.

Some wealthy sisters even bought dozens of copies at once.

My fingers got so tired from writing.

Then in the afternoon, there were even more people.

Many who had come in the morning came back in the afternoon to buy more storybooks.

Anyway, it was busy and fun.”

Wei Lan smiled at Lu Zijin.

Seeing that her wife was listening attentively, Wei Lan thought she wanted to hear more, so she continued.

“Wife, you have no idea how many people came.

In the end, there were still dozens of people who couldn’t buy anything, but there was nothing I could do.

They’ll have to come back next time.

Oh, and there’s something really funny I want to tell you.”

Lu Zijin still had a smile on her face and nodded slightly at Wei Lan.

“Go ahead.”

“Zhou Yufu, the owner of the city’s rouge shop, seems to have taken a liking to Xi Ye.

She bought ninety books just to chat with her a little longer.

My hand was so tired it was cramping.

But Zhou Yufu is quite pretty.

She and Xi Ye actually look kind of good together.”

Lu Zijin watched her little Qiankun happily chattering away, the smile on her face growing warmer.

She grabbed the ‘little dog’ plaque on Wei Lan’s chest and pulled her towards her.

Wei Lan, thinking Lu Zijin wanted to kiss her, obediently leaned in.

When she saw her wife didn’t move, she leaned in herself to kiss Lu Zijin.

But before her face could reach her, Lu Zijin reached out and pinched her cheek, pushing her away.

With one hand still holding the ‘little dog’ plaque, Lu Zijin leaned in and gently sniffed Wei Lan.

The gentle expression on her face finally cracked.

Lu Zijin, still holding the ‘little dog’ plaque, sat up a little straighter and looked up at Wei Lan.

Wei Lan sensed a hint of danger and looked at Lu Zijin with an expression of complete innocence.

“Wife, what’s wrong?”

“What do you think?

If a little dog misbehaves, shouldn’t the owner punish the little dog?

Hmm?”

Lu Zijin’s deep, ink-dark eyes were filled with danger.

Only now did Wei Lan think about stepping back.

But the ‘little dog’ plaque on her chest was being held by Lu Zijin, and she couldn’t retreat.

Besides, she felt that if she did retreat, her wife would be even angrier, so she didn’t dare.

“But… but I didn’t do anything wrong today.

I even earned so much silver.”

Wei Lan, with the ‘little dog’ plaque being held, could only brace herself with one hand on the round table and bend over to look at Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin pinched Wei Lan’s chin with her right hand, her thumb gently rubbing it.

“It seems the little dog still hasn’t learned.

She still doesn’t know where she went wrong.”

Lu Zijin pulled Wei Lan towards her by the ‘little dog’ plaque and bit her.

Lu Zijin’s kiss was extremely aggressive, urgent and fierce.

Soon, Wei Lan’s lips turned rose-red, and her lower lip was bitten several times.

Her eyes grew misty from the kiss, and she could barely stand.

Wei Lan, unable to breathe, pushed at Lu Zijin several times, whimpering, before Lu Zijin finally pulled back slightly.

Holding the ‘little dog’ plaque, she pulled Wei Lan towards the bed, then gave her a push.

Wei Lan was pushed directly onto her back on the bed.

She was just about to get up when Lu Zijin had already skillfully straddled Wei Lan’s waist.

“Where does the master think she’s going?”

“Nowhere… nowhere.

Wife, why are you suddenly angry?”

Wei Lan, her lips already swollen, lay there being straddled and asked obediently.

She had earned a lot more money today.

She truly couldn’t figure out why Lu Zijin was angry.

And Qianxue had smiled at her when she left, which should mean her wife was very pleased with her, right?

Lu Zijin was so angry she laughed.

She took out two pieces of red silk that she had prepared.

Wei Lan felt that these two pieces of red silk were a bit ominous.

She nervously licked her lips and asked in the most innocent tone she could muster, “Wife, what are those?”

Lu Zijin gave her a beautiful smile, her eyes seeming to hold autumn water, and replied gently and affectionately, “A disobedient little dog naturally needs to be tied up and disciplined by her owner.

Don’t you agree, master?”

Wei Lan’s back was sweating.

She bared her teeth in an awkward smile, trying to appease her.

“Yes, yes.

A disobedient little dog should be disciplined.

But I’m the most obedient little dog.

You wouldn’t have the heart to discipline me, would you, wife?”

Lu Zijin’s smile grew even gentler, but she shook her head at Wei Lan.

“No.”